DISCLAIMER: House isn't mine.

AN. So I thought it was time to bring House into it and get his perspective. This is where it gets interesting.

Three:

It was, by this stage, it was half-past eleven. Re-reading the letters and then getting lost in thoughts is a great way to pass the time. I was on to letter four now, once again from Caroline to Henry.

February 23rd, 1942

Dear Henry,

I just read your letter for the hundredth time, and I can't tell you how much it moved me. I know you love me, but to see it in your own handwriting... I think I should have it framed, just as proof it happened. I'm replying straight away, in case this is just a dream and I should wake up.

Sorry darling, I'm just teasing. I suppose that isn't the best way to encourage you to write letters like that more often, is it? A funny thing happened the other day, Janine came into the practice the other day, and do you remember her? The nurse who Eliza replaced about two years ago? Anyway, she was in the neighbourhood and thought she'd drop by to see how we were going with the war, at least that's what she said. You know what a gossip she was. Actually, she still is.

As we were talking, she happened to catch sight of my beautiful ring that is my pride and joy in your absence, a never-ending sign of your love for me. Of course, Janine being Janine, she wanted all the details of first and foremost who I was marrying, and then the details of how you proposed and if we had any wedding arrangements completed yet. I found it quite comical just how surprised she was when I said I was marrying you! Well, I suppose we had only been courting for six months when she left, but it was actually kind of insulting.

I believe her exact words when I said I was betrothed to you were 'Henry? Why on Earth would you marry him?' I didn't dignify her with an answer.

Well, I still love you, despite Janine's disapproval. I hope you come home to me soon, my love.

Caroline.

"What are you doing?"

I jumped, startled at the sudden voice in the room- I hadn't even heard the door slide open. I was even more startled because the voice that interrupted me belonged to none other than House, who never comes in before nine, unless there's an emergency. And it was only just after midnight.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, not answering his question, because I had no idea how to answer it. What was I doing? Reading letters from World War II that the painters found under a loose floorboard in my house. Yes, that's very ethical. Actually, it's something House would do... great.

He shrugged. "Couldn't sleep."

He eased into the chair next to me, and I noticed his right hand gripping his thigh muscle as he sat. His leg must be bothering him, I've noticed it tends to ache more in the colder months. I think I took pity on him because he was in pain, because I answered his earlier question in an attempt to distract him from the pain.

"I'm getting my house painted, and they found these letters under a loose floorboard," I replied, holding them up for him to see.

"And I've got nothing else to do tonight, so I started reading them."

"Your landlord is letting you paint your apartment?"

I suddenly realised that House didn't know that I'd bought a house. I try to keep him out of my private life, and I filed my own change of address at the hospital.

"No, actually. I bought a house."

He blinked at me. "You bought a house?"

I nodded. "Yeah. But I had to get it painted, because... well, for one thing it's been empty for about ten years apparently; and the last owners must have loved the colour yellow. Unfortunately, it's an awful yellow, so hence the painting."

House was still staring at me with an odd expression. "You bought a house?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, I did. Why?"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

I frowned slightly in confusion. "Because. I didn't realise I needed your permission. It's not that big of a deal, House."

I think House's expression was just shock that something happened that he didn't know about. He can be such a child sometimes... and dammit, why do I find that sexy?

I shook my head in disbelief and went to open the next letter when the pile was suddenly snatched off my lap.

"Hey!" I protested, but House ignored me.

"So, what are these? Love letters?"

"Kind of, yeah," I answered readily.

He read the date on the first letter and let out a low whistle. "1942. Good year."

I wasn't sure if he was serious or not. I mean, who looks at any date during a war and says 'good year'?

"You'd know. What were you, six then?" I muttered under my breath and leaned over, in an effort to grab back the letters.

He must have heard me though, because he abruptly moved the letters out of my reach, and grabbed my outstretched arm with his hand. I let out a sigh and twisted my head to look up at him, and immediately wished I hadn't. House was now only perhaps a foot away from my face, and staring at me with those eyes, one eyebrow raised.

You know in Harry Potter, how he always says that Dumbledore's gaze feels like he's being x-rayed? That's kind of how House's gaze makes me feel... except he's hot.

"Are you implying that I'm old?" he asked me.

I gestured innocently. "Would I do that? I'm the nice one, remember?" I smiled sweetly and House regarded me intensely for a moment before releasing my arm.

To my immense irritation, he then read the letters I had already opened. At first it was just annoying, because all I wanted to do was read the final two letters that he wouldn't relinquish. But about half way through the second letter, I could tell he was as sucked into the story as I was and I loved the look on his face as he read the letters between Caroline and Henry. It was an expression I didn't think I'd ever seen on his face before.

I finally reacted as he began to open the fifth letter, the one I hadn't read yet.

"Hey! I haven't read it yet, give it back!"

"No way. You snooze, you lose."

"You are such a child," I fumed, trying to grab the letter back.

"And you love it about me," he replied.

I blushed furiously, but didn't comment.

"House, come on! They're my letters!"

"No they're not. Last time I checked you were Allison, not Caroline and if you were twenty-five in 1942, you must give me directions to the fountain of youth you've apparently found."

Typical House. And he once accused me of taking everything too literal. I rolled my eyes, and gave in. "Fine. You read it then."

Dammit, why do I always give in to him?

House surprised me though (it was bound to happen eventually, right?) and cleared his throat, beginning to read the letter aloud.

12th April, 1942

Caroline, what the hell is going on?

You haven't written to me in two months! I'm really getting worried.

At first I thought maybe mail was just getting lost, but all the other doctors and nurses are getting their mail, so I repeat- what the hell is going on?

The only thing I can think of is you've finally realised you can do better and fallen in love with someone else. If its Churchill- I'd say that's going downhill, not up.

Sweetheart, please write to me. I need to know you're safe. I'm trapped here in this hellhole, doing the best I can to save lives with limited equipment, and even less morale. My only motivation is to get home to you, so please just let me know you're not hurt.

I know these past few months have been rough, my darling, but it won't be much longer. I just got the news this morning, my love, that I'm being promoted and with it, transferred back stateside!

I can't wait to see you, and the first thing I'm going to do is to marry you. I don't care when, where or how, but I'm not waiting any longer. I've seen too much death and destruction here to delay celebrating life.

Please write soon, sweetheart. I'll be waiting for your word.

All my love,

Henry.

Despite how strange it was to hear the words 'sweetheart', 'my love' and 'darling' coming from House's lips, I was still shocked by the letter. I was desperate to know why Caroline hadn't written back to 'the love of her life'; and I lunged for the final letter on House's lap. Caroline couldn't have fallen in love with someone else, could she? There was no way!

House didn't stop me as I opened the final letter, with much less care than I had opened the others. It was very short, but I was relieved to see it was in Caroline's handwriting- she had at least, replied to his desperate letter.

April, 24th 1942

My dearest Henry,

I'm so sorry to worry you, all I've done since we've been apart is try not to give you any reason to think I'm anything less than safe. I got your letter a few days ago, but I... I just don't know how to tell you.

I hope you know how much I love you, Henry. I do, so much. The news of your homecoming is a moment I've dreamed of often since you left, but I always imagined I would feel so much more joy at the news.

Please let it be noted I have not fallen in love with anyone else... I have already given my heart to you, there is no hope of any of my love and affection belonging to anyone but you, and so it shall be until the day I die.

I love you so much, and it is my fear of losing you and having to endure a life without you that has kept me from writing for so long. But that said, I understand if, upon hearing my news, you wish to terminate our engagement.

I will tell you all when you return. I would not do you the dishonour of telling you on paper.

I love you, and I will eternally.

Caroline.

House, intrigued by this little mystery, clapped his hands together in excitement.

"Ok, quick- next letter."

"There's no more," I replied, still dazed.

"What?"

"There was only six under the floorboard," I said helplessly. "God... what happened to her?"

"Maybe there's more letters under the floorboards?" House suggested. "I vote we go look!"

Now, I may have been in shock over the unknown fate of Henry and Caroline, but not so dazed I didn't recognize that House's suggestion had a secondary motive of inspecting my home.

I smiled mischievously at him. "Sure. You stay here and supervise the patient while I go look."

House pouted. "Not fair."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Please, you don't think after three years of working for you, I don't know what your motives are?"

"I'm quite sure I have no idea what you're talking about," House replied innocently, but I wasn't buying it.

I merely smiled and leaned my head against the wall. Now that the adrenaline caused by finding the letters had worn off, I was really quite exhausted. But with House here, I wouldn't feel bad about sleeping. I don't think he even noticed that I fell asleep.